GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Former Michigan State Representative Lynn Afendoulis declared her candidacy to represent the people of Michigan’s new 81st House District, which was recently created through the redistricting process. It includes Ada Township, most of Grand Rapids Township, the southern portion of Plainfield Township, and the northeast portion of the City of Grand Rapids.

“I loved serving; of being the representative of the people and taking their values and voice to Lansing. I took seriously my responsibility to ensure that the government they fund is doing what it should do, and doing it well,” Afendoulis said. “It’s an honor and responsibility that I would love to have again.”

Greek-American Afendoulis represented the former 73rd House District in 2018-19, which included the City of East Grand Rapids and the townships of Grand Rapids, Plainfield, Cannon, Courtland, Spencer, Oakfield, and Nelson.

She was the first freshman ever to chair the powerful Tax Policy Committee and led the passage of bipartisan legislation to ensure tax fairness for Main Street Michigan businesses, which were burdened with paying taxes that many online marketplaces – like Amazon and eBay – unfairly avoided, giving them a competitive advantage. The legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously and resulted in tax fairness for Michigan businesses and in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state from giant online marketplaces.

Afendoulis served on the committee for Auto No-Fault Reform and was instrumental in getting that passed, resulting in savings for Michigan families. She also served on the House committees on Health Policy, Transportation, and Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security.

She wants to continue her work to rein in government spending, demand accountability of everyone paid by taxpayers, get Michigan working, protect the health and safety of our communities, and preserve our rights and freedoms.

“I intend be an example of respect and of concern for the other. One can accomplish a lot by setting a high bar for civility and respect and by aiming for the good, and I intend to do just that,” she said.

Afendoulis graduated from Michigan State University and was a newspaper reporter before turning to a career in business. For 26 years, she worked in various capacities for UFP Industries, formerly Universal Forest Products. She has served on many boards, including the parish council Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation (which she chaired), Youth Commonwealth (now the Boys and Girls Club), Opera Grand Rapids and Circle Theater. She has two adult children and lives in Grand Rapids Township.

More information is available online: https://www.lynnafendoulis.com/.